Guzmania plant named Limbo

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Guzmania plant named `Limbo`, characterized by the combined features of bicolored cream and lilac upper bracts, and bicolored lilac and green scape bracts, superior floral bract production, solid compact growth habit, and long lasting habit.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of thegenus Guzmania, within the family bromeliaceae, and hereinafter referredto by the cultivar named `Limbo`.

The genus Guzmania comprises over 100 species of evergreen perennialssuitable for cultivation in the home or under glass. Guzmania arepredominantly epiphytic with a few terrestrial species and are native tothe tropics. For the most part the species vary in diamter from 7 or 8inches to 3 or 4 feet and have rosettes of glossy, smooth edged leaves.

Floral bracts of Guzmania frequently have brilliant colors and may lastfor many months. The range of colors for Guzmania is generally fromyellow through orange but may also include flame red and red-purple.White or yellow, tubular, three petalled flowers may also appear on astem or within the leaf rosette but are usually short lived.

Guzmania may be advantageously grown as pot plants for greenhouse orhome use. Desirably the plants are shaded from direct sunlight, andduring the spring to autumn period the central vase-like part of theleaf rosette is desirably filled with water.

Guzmania is native to tropical America. Leaves of the Guzmania areusually formed as basal rosettes which are stiff and entire and inseveral vertical ranks. Guzmania have terminal spikes or panicles whichare often bracted with petals united in a tube about as long as theclayx. The ovary is superior and the seeds plumose.

Asexual propagation of Guzmania is frequently done through the use oftissue culture practices. Propagation can also be from off-shootsproduced by the plant which may then be rooted. The resulting plantletsare detached from the mother plant and may be potted up in a suitablegrowing mixture.

The new cultivar `Limbo` is a product of a planned breeding program andwas originated by the inventors from a cross made during such a programin Assendelft, The Netherlands, in 1982. The male or pollen parent was aselection from Guzmania Wittmackii identified by Code No. 62502, and thefemale or seed parent was a selection from Guzmania lingulata minor,identified by Code No. 62501. The selection comprising the new varietywas chosen after commencement of flowering of the progeny in 1985. Thenew variety was first asexually propagated by off-shoots, and asexualreproduction through established tissue culture techniques started in1986 at our facilities located in Assendelft, noted above. Tissueculture is the preferred form of asexual reproduction. It has beenclearly demonstrated that the combination of characteristics of `Limbo`are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations ofasexual reproduction.

`Limbo` is particularly characterized by the following:

1. Solid, compact growth habit.

2. Superior floral bract production.

3. Unique bract color. The scape bracts are a greyed purple (lilac) withgreen tips. The lowest primary bracts are cream (158B) near the stalk,greyed-purple tinging over cream in the intermediate portion, andgreyed-purple at the tips or ends. The upper primary bracts are entirelycream except for greyed-purple tips.

4. Its long lasting habit.

The closest comparison cultivar is `Amaranth`, a Guzmania having purplebracts. `Limbo` is primarily distinguished from `Amaranth` by Limbo'sbicolored more expansive from the main stalk, and its shorter bractinflorescence relative to the total stalk height.

`Limbo` has not been tested under all available environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironmental conditions such as temperature, light intensity, daylength and humidity, without, however, any variation in genotype.

The accompanying color photographic drawings show typicalcharacteristics of `Limbo`, with colors being as true as possible withillustrations of this type.

Sheet 1 comprises a perspective view of a full plant with floral bracts.

Sheet 2 is an enlarged side view showing the floral bracts in moredetail.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.).

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and in combinationdistinguish `Limbo` as a new and distinct cultivar. These observations,measurements and descriptions have been performed under greenhouseconditions in Assendelft, The Netherlands.

I. Plant:

Form.--Funnel form rosette.

Height.--Approximately 45 cm high when flowering.

Growth habit.--Stemless.

Diameter.--Approximately 65 cm.

II. Foliage:

Size of leaf.--Approximately 35 to 40 cm long and 3.5 cm wide.

Shape of leaf.--Linear -- lanceolate.

Surface texture.--Smooth.

Variegation.--None.

Color.--Upperside; 147A; Underside; 137B. (color can vary depending onenvironmental conditions).

III. Bracts:

Length.--Scape bracts: Approximately 10 to 20 cm. Primary bracts:Approximately 4 to 10 cm. Floral bracts: Approximately 5.5 cm.

Width.--Primary bracts and scape bracts: approximately 3 cm; floralbracts approximately 1.5 cm.

General shape.--Lanceolate.

Texture.--Smooth.

Margin.--Entire.

Color.--Scape bracts: R.H.S. 186A; Scape bract-ends: R.H.S. 137B; Lowestprimary bracts parts near to the stalk: R.H.S. 158B; Lowest primarybracts middle parts: R.H.S. 186A; Lowest primary bract-ends: R.H.S.137B; Higher primary bracts: R.H.S. 158B; Higher primary bract-ends:R.H.S. 186A; (The color changes with maturity: The center of theinflorescence before flowering is R.H.S. 160D-161D, and after floweringis R.H.S. 158B).

IV. Flowers:

borne (stalks).--Erect.

Shape of inflorescence.--Compound.

Size of inflorescence on stalk.--Approximately 12 cm.

Individual petals.--(Mostly disposed within the floral bracts hiddenbehind the primary bracts). (1) Length: Approximately 5.5 cm. (2) Width:Approximately 0.5 cm. (3) Quantity: Approximately 80 flowers dividedover approximately 12 branches depending on the size of the plant.(4)Color: R.H.S. 155D.

Time of blooming.--A fully grown plant can bloom the whole yearstarting±14 weeks after natural induction or induction through treatmentwith acetylene.

Duration of blooms.--Each flower blooms 1 day and the total duration ofblooming is about 6 weeks.

V. Reproductive organs:

Ovaries.--Superior.

Stamens.--6 in number.

VI. Seed characteristics: Sterile hybrid, therefore no fruit or seed.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Guzmania plant named `Limbo`,as illustrated and described.